Software developers in the gaming scene typically emphasize storytelling and graphics engines, but there’s another niche that’s a lot less talked about—online casino software. These underrated software developers are responsible for powering some of the hottest casinos on the web, including the top-ranked social casinos on casinos.com, and driving billions in revenue for top casino apps all around the world. While they also focus on game mechanics and creating fun and engaging titles, they’ve got the unique responsibility of ensuring fair play and compliance with often strict gaming regulations. They might consider how to harness the latest and greatest in casino software, including live dealer technology.

What casino software companies have in common with game developers, however, is that they start off as small indie brands and work their way up to the big leagues. While these brands might not be household names like Electronic Arts, Naughty Dog, or Namco, they deserve serious recognition for their contributions to the online gambling world. Let’s take a look at a few of the top casino software providers.

Playtech

Founded during the big online gambling boom, Playtech was certainly ahead of the game, a trend you’ll see with most of the software providers in our list. The company was founded by Israeli businessman Teddy Sagi, who also owns London’s Camden Market and Kape Technologies, the cybersecurity company that owns ExpressVPN. It’s considered the world’s top international developer, licensor, and designer of software for the online gaming industry, responsible for online bingo, sports betting, poker, casinos, and more. Over the years, the industry was initially volatile and unpredictable, so naturally, the company went through a few ups and downs. However, it was ultimately proven to be built to thrive in these conditions, acquiring a variety of casino-relevant businesses, including PokerStrategy.com, YoYo Games, and other online game developers to create a monolith presence.

Microgaming

Microgaming isn’t far behind in the ranks of the biggest casino developers on the planet. The company was responsible for many firsts in the virtual gambling niche, seeing as it launched its first game as early as 1994. Most people didn’t have internet access at home at the time, but Durban entrepreneur Martin Moshal saw what the future would hold and capitalized on the opportunity.

Although Microgaming also went through a rough patch with the new laws enacted by the U.S. government, its over 800-casino-game portfolio with over 1,000 variants speaks to its determination and tenacity. After this rollercoaster, the company was able to secure plenty of other licenses and partnerships, with movie themes and iconic characters implemented into its games. What sets it apart from other companies is its focus on innovation, with ideas and plans to make slot games available for wearable devices, for example. The brand also holds the Guinness world record for the largest online casino payout at £13,209,300 in 2015 ($17.6 million).

Evolution AB

Internationally renowned in the gaming technology space, Evolution AB notably provides live casino services to 600+ online casino operators and popular land-based casinos like the Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Atlantic City. Although based in Sweden, Evolution has studios across North America and Europe and has been named Live Casino Supplier of the Year every single year the award has existed. Within its portfolio, you’ll find games like craps, live blackjack, lightning roulette, live roulette, live poker, live baccarat, and countless others that are highly regarded among casino-goers and enthusiasts. Throughout its tenure, it acquired other casino software brands like NetEnt, Red Tiger, and Ezugi. Evolution was launched in 2006 with the aim of delivering the live player experience to people’s homes, but little did the company know that the industry would explode beyond its expectations.

Novomatic

Novomatic was founded in the 1980s by Austrian Johann Graf. At the time, public internet didn’t yet exist. Graf initially started a business to import pinball machines, but after his partner called it quits, he decided to produce gambling machines under the brand Admiral Casino and opened a few casinos under that name. Eventually, Admiral became Novomatic and focused on improving the technology of those machines. Because of the company’s efforts, its machines became some of the first to use touchscreen technology. With so much focus on its 2,000 gaming facilities, including casinos, betting shops, and slot parlors, it wasn’t until 2010 that Novomatic entered the online gambling business. Today, the provider creates slots, roulette, table games, live casino games, and more, with a range of products catering to a digital generation of gamblers.

Gaming Innovation Group

EveryMatrix is a little more of a jack-of-all-trades, providing everything from software and services for sports betting, payments, casinos, and even affiliate management to an online casino platform. The brand provides a scalable, modular service that operators can use to provide its customers with a more accurate, compliant, and comprehensive offering.

For example, its CasinoEngine product has all the tools a B2B partner needs to start a successful online casino—more than 27,800 casino games, multiple compliance certifications in different jurisdictions, and all sorts of robust features to stay competitive. And that’s just one in its lineup of products. The OddsMatrix solution comes with industry-leading sports coverage and accuracy, real-time sports data feeds, and even esports services, so providers don’t miss out on that chunk of the market. If you’re looking for other tools, EveryMatrix has a cross-product bonus system, a jackpot management system, and other useful gaming platform additions.

Congratulations on your appointment as Senior Sales Manager at PandaScore. How have you settled in?

Thank you. I’ve settled in really well, helped of course by the entire PandaScore team being incredibly welcoming and supportive. This has allowed me to hit the ground running and to enjoy getting to know the team and the business. I’ve spent my initial days understanding the intricacies of our products and the specific needs of our customers. This has been crucial in helping me align my goals with the company’s vision. I’ve also taken time to get a feel for the dynamics of the business and my immediate team to ensure that I integrate myself smoothly into day-to-day operations. It’s been a busy few weeks, but great fun at the same time.

Where will you be focusing your attention and efforts initially?

Now that I’ve got my feet under the table, my focus will be on strengthening the relationship we have with our current sportsbook operator partners and also identifying new business opportunities. I plan to expand our market share by showcasing the unique value that we bring to the esports betting space through our Odds feed as well as cutting-edge products such as our BetBuilder and PlayerProps. I’ll also be working closely with teams across the business to ensure our solutions and services align with the needs of our customers and they not only meet expectations but exceed them.

Can you talk through your previous experience and how you will use it to help drive growth at PandaScore?

My background is in sales and business development, especially driving growth through strategic partnerships. This will be instrumental in my role at PandaScore where I’ll leverage my experience in identifying new market trends and customer needs to develop and deploy targeted sales strategies that will help us expand our presence across international markets and ultimately drive growth. That I have experience in both the video games and gambling industries is an added bonus, too.

You mention you have experience in both video gaming and gambling – what are the main similarities between these industries?

Both industries are about engagement and entertainment. In video games, the focus is on creating immersive experiences that captivate players while with betting, it’s all about providing thrilling and potentially rewarding experiences. Of course, esports betting sees these two worlds collide. They are a good fit, too. Both rely heavily on innovation and a compelling UX. They also have a shared community aspect and the need to build a loyal user base to ensure long-term success. The overlap between the two provides plenty of opportunities, especially when it comes to esports which bridges the gap between competitive gaming and betting.

Some operators have been slow to embrace the esports betting opportunity. Why is this and what are you doing to ensure more sportsbooks tap into the rising demand for esports betting?

There are a few reasons for this. Some operators are hesitant due to a lack of understanding of the esports audience and how to engage them – esports fans are quite different to traditional sports bettors in their preferences and expectations. There’s also the challenge of navigating the fast-paced and ever-evolving world of esports. This is why we have focused on educating our partners about what makes esports different and then providing them with the tools they need to engage players and deliver the esports betting experiences they are seeking. To do this, we take a data-driven approach alongside offering a suite of innovative solutions that simplify the process for operators to get in on the esports betting action.

What makes for a compelling esports betting experience? Does it differ from standard sports betting and if so, how?

It comes down to offering fast-paced, engaging and tailored betting opportunities across many esports disciplines. The user experience and bet types offered need to reflect the dynamic nature of esports, including things like player props, bet builders and micro-betting. Esports fans also expect enhanced on-site content to add more value to their overall experience with the esportsbook, which is why our pre-match and live stats widgets is proving really popular with operators and their players.

What opportunities are operators missing if they don’t get in on the esports action?

Those who fail to tap into the esports market are missing out on the chance to engage a rapidly growing and highly motivated audience. Esports allows operators to reach a younger demographic not currently interested in traditional sports betting. In addition, the global reach of esports allows operators to expand into new markets through a growing vertical that shows no signs of slowing down. By not embracing esports, operators are failing to diversify their offering and missing the chance to engage the players of tomorrow, today.

Any final thoughts?

Esports is not just a trend. It represents a significant shift in the entertainment and betting landscape and those who recognise this and embrace it will be the ones who see substantial growth in the years ahead. At PandaScore, we are committed to being at the forefront of this revolution and we are excited to partner with forward-thinking operators who are ready to seize the opportunity at hand.

The European Gaming Congress (EGC) returns to Warsaw for 2024 on 15-16 October, and organizer HIPTHER is proud to introduce the conference’s esteemed Sponsors – trailblazing companies and accomplished professionals that help make the magic happen! In this Sponsors Spotlight Interview, we welcome Maciej Makuszewski, iGaming Director at Promatic Group, parent company of the Platinum Sponsor for EGC 2024, Promatic Games.

For many people outside the gaming industry, putting social responsibility and online slot games in the same sentence might seem counterintuitive. What’s your perspective on this? How can a slot development company demonstrate responsibility?

You’ve hit on a very interesting point right from the beginning. From an outsider’s view, social responsibility and online gambling might seem like polar opposites—like water and fire. But within the industry, we understand that to succeed, all parties, and especially operators and game studios, need to cater to a broad audience. This includes not only players seeking excitement and adrenaline but also casual players who just want a bit of entertainment. We simply need to think about the mass market when designing the gaming experience.

From there, it becomes essential to safeguard ALL players by promoting responsible behaviors and minimizing risks. After all, even with a naturally risky activity like gambling, people still want a sense of security in their experience. This is where social responsibility becomes key. While the public often associates our industry with problem gambling or even addiction, this is a simplistic view. A problem gambler is not a good player—not for them, and certainly not for us. We aim to create a safe and enjoyable environment for all players, which ultimately benefits everyone involved.

So speaking of iGaming in general, what are the key areas when it comes to promoting responsible behavior and minimizing risks for players, as you rightly put it?

I would consider Responsible Gaming as an umbrella term that encompasses a range of measures. I usually break these down into several key categories:

1. Identifying and protecting vulnerable players
2. Game mechanics
3. Transparency and communication
4. Youth exposure
5. Game design and incentives
6. Financial limits and self-exclusion mechanisms
7. Utilization of player data

Of course, this list can evolve depending on specific market needs, but these are the core elements. I haven’t included aspects like fairness or certification, as these are typically viewed as basic prerequisites in most regulated markets—they aren’t specific to Responsible Gaming but rather fundamental requirements for offering games to customers. Additionally, technical standards can also play a supporting role in fostering a responsible gaming environment.

Given that your role as a game studio is to provide the games themselves, how can you contribute to making the experience as responsible as possible? You’re not in full control over all of the seven areas you mentioned earlier.

You’re right—our role is narrower compared to operators, but we still have a significant impact in key areas. We can influence game mechanics, transparency and communication, youth exposure (to some extent), and game design and incentives. While we don’t manage player data, we can still support the identification of problem gambling behaviors.

Take game mechanics, for example. As a studio, we invest a lot of time in balancing the speed of gameplay with clear, accurate visualizations of the spin results. One of our key principles is ensuring that all our designs and developments are configurable to meet Responsible Gaming requirements. For instance, our games were recently certified in the Czech Republic, where the regulator mandates that each spin lasts at least two seconds. This is a Responsible Gaming measure, and our configurable software allowed us to implement this requirement quickly.

Another area that’s been a focus of many regulators is the Bonus Buy feature. We were hesitant to introduce it because some of the behaviors associated with this feature may heighten the risk of problem gambling. After months of careful consideration, we decided to launch it only with the ability to monitor every player action related to this functionality. We are committed to tracking this feature closely to ensure it aligns with responsible gaming standards.

You’re also going to touch on game design and incentives at the European Gaming Congress (EGC), correct?

Yes, that’s right! We’re excited to share the story behind one of our most innovative games, Ale Fajny BOBER. The game’s theme is inspired by a popular viral video, and it was a fascinating challenge for our team to translate the essence of a two-minute YouTube clip into an engaging slot experience. We had many discussions on how to best capture and visualize that story within a slot game format. But I’ll save the finer details for the conference—we’ll be talking about it on Day 1 during our presentation! Feel free to join and ask questions!

You mentioned the game Ale Fajny BOBER. Could our readers be familiar with other titles that have come out of your studio?

Ale Fajny Bober is indeed a new game, which had its premiere in Poland on September 26. Promatic Games has a portfolio of hundreds of exciting slot games that have been both successful and widely appreciated by players. Some of these include: Mummy’s Treasure Deluxe, Dracula’s Treasure, Janosik 30 and Miss Joker Show  – the latter has even been shortlisted for the Best iGaming Product category at the EiGE2024 awards, with the final taking place at the upcoming conference. I warmly invite to join us at the event and cast your vote for our title. See you there!

Promatic Group’s iGaming Director, Maciej Makuszewski, and Product Design Manager, Luka Oblak, will be presenting a workshop at the European Gaming Congress on ‘Mastering the Art of Balanced Slot Development.

Join us in Warsaw and meet the Promatic Games Team in person:

Get your tickets for the European Gaming Congress 2024 Now!